the red seal-第24章

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〃Your　forte　lies　as　a　romancer　rather　than　a　lawyer；　Mr。　Kent；〃　she　said；　and　not　giving　him　time　for　a　reply；　almost　ran　inside　the　house。

〃Glad　you　could　get　here　so　soon；　Kent；〃　remarked　McIntyre；　signing　to　his　chauffeur　to　drive　on　before　he　led　the　way　into　the　house。　〃Grimes　has　worked　himself　almost　into　a　fever　asking　for　you。〃

〃Grimes？〃

〃Yes。　　Grimes　was　attacked　in　our　library　early　this　morning　by　some　unknown　person；　and　is　in　bed　with　a　bad　wound　on　his　temple　and　a　tendency　to　hysteria；〃　McIntyre　explained。

〃Come　upstairs。〃

Kent　handed　his　cane　and　hat　to　the　footman　and　followed　Colonel　McIntyre；　who　stalked　ahead　without　another　word。　　As　they　mounted　the　stairs　Kent　glanced　at　the　folded　paper　which　he　still　held；　and　was　surprised　to　see　that　it　was　a　check。　　The　signature　showed　him　that　he　had　unintentionally　walked　off　with　Mrs。　Brewster's　property。　　His　decision　to　hand　it　to　Colonel　McIntyre　was　checked　by　the　Colonel　disappearing　inside　a　bedroom；　with　a　muttered　injunction　to　〃wait　there；〃　and　Kent　stuffed　the　check　inside　his　vest　pocket。　　It　would　serve　as　an　excuse　to　interview　Mrs。　Brewster　again　before　leaving　the　house。　　He　was　determined　to　have　an　answer　to　the　question　he　had　put　to　her　in　the　limousine。　　Why　had　she　gone　to　the　police　court；　and　why　kept　her　presence　there　a　secret？

When　Colonel　McIntyre　reappeared　in　the　hall　he　was　accompanied　by　Detective　Ferguson。　　〃Sorry　to　keep　you　standing；　Kent；〃　he　said。　〃I　have　sent　for　you　and　Ferguson；　first　because　Grimes　insists　on　seeing　you；　and　second；　because　I　am　determined　that　this　midnight　house…breaking　shall　be　thoroughly　investigated　and　put　an　end　to。　This　way；〃　and　he　led　them　into　a　large　airy　bedroom　on　the　third　floor；　to　which　Grimes　had　been　carried　unconscious　that　morning；　instead　of　to　his　own　bedroom　in　the　servants'　quarters。

Grimes；　with　his　head　swathed　in　bandages；　was　a　woe…begone　object。　He　greeted　Colonel　McIntyre　and　the　detective　with　a　sullen　glare；　but　his　eyes　brightened　at　sight　of　Kent；　and　he　moved　a　feeble　hand　in　welcome。

〃Sit　down；　sirs；〃　he　mumbled。　　〃There's　chairs　for　all。〃

〃Don't　worry　about　us；〃　remarked　McIntyre　cheerily。　　〃Just　tell　us　how　you　got　that　nasty　knock　on　the　head。〃

〃I　dunno；　sir；　it　came　like　a　clap　o'　thunder；〃　Grimes　tried　to　lift　his　head；　but　gave　over　the　attempt　as　excruciating　pain　followed　the　effort。

〃What　hour　of　the　morning　was　it？〃　asked　Ferguson。

〃About　one　o'clock；　as　near　as　I　can　tell；　sir。〃

〃And　what　were　you　doing　in　the　library　at　that　hour；　Grimes？〃　demanded　McIntyre。

〃Trying　to　find　out　what　your　household　was　up　to；　sir；〃　was　Grimes'　unexpected　answer；　and　McIntyre　started。

〃Explain　your　meaning；　Grimes；〃　he　commanded　sternly。

〃You　can　do　it　better　than　I　can；　sir；〃　retorted　Grimes。　　〃You　know　the　reason　every　one's　searching　the　room　with　the　seven　doors。〃

〃The　room　with　the　seven　doors！〃　echoed　Ferguson。　　〃Which　is　that？〃

〃Grimes　means　the　library。〃　McIntyre's　tone　was　short。　　〃I　have　no　idea；　Grimes；　what　your　allegations　mean。　　Be　more　explicit。〃

The　butler　eyed　him　in　no　friendly　fashion。　　〃Wasn't　Mr。　Turnbull　arrested　in　that　very　room？〃　he　demanded。　　〃And　what　was　he　looking　for？〃

〃Mr。　Turnbull's　presence　has　been　explained；〃　replied　McIntyre。　〃He　came　here　disguised　as　a　burglar　on　a　wager　with　my　daughter；　Miss　Barbara。〃

〃Ah；　did　he　now？〃　　Grimes'　rising　inflection　indicated　nervous　tension。　　〃Did　a　man　with　a　bad　heart　come　here　in　the　dead　of　night　for　nothing　but　that　foolishness？〃　　Grimes　glared　at　his　three　visitors。　　〃You　bet　he　didn't。〃

Ferguson；　who　had　followed　the　dialogue　between　McIntyre　and　his　servant　with　deep　attention；　addressed　the　excited　man。

〃Why　did　Mr。　Turnbull　enter　Colonel　McIntyre's　library　on　Monday　night　disguised　as　a　burglar？〃　he　asked。

Grimes；　by　a　twist　of　his　head；　managed　to　regard　the　detective　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye。

〃Aye；　why　did　he？〃　he　repeated。　　〃That's　what　I　went　to　the　library　last　night　to　find　out。〃

〃Did　you　discover　anything？〃　The　question　shot　from　McIntyre；　and　both　Ferguson　and　Kent　watched　him　as　they　waited　for　Grimes'　reply。　The　butler　took　his　time。

〃No；　sir。〃

McIntyre　threw　himself　back　in　his　chair　and　his　eyebrows　rose　in　interrogation　as　he　touched　his　forehead　significantly　and　glanced　at　Grimes。　　That　the　butler　caught　his　meaning　was　evident　from　his　expression；　but　he　said　nothing。　　The　detective　was　the　first　to　speak。

〃Did　you　hear　any　one　break　into　the　house　when　you　were　prowling　around；　Grimes？〃　he　asked。

〃No；　sir。〃

The　detective　turned　to　Colonel　McIntyre。　　〃After　finding　Grimes　did　you　search　the　house？〃　he　inquired。

〃Yes。　　The　patrolman；　O'Ryan；　and　my　new　footman；　Murray；　went　with　me　through　the　entire　house；　and　we　found　all　doors　and　windows　to　the　front　and　rear　of　the　house　securely　locked；〃　responded　McIntyre；　〃except　the　window　of　the　reception　room　on　the　ground　floor。　　That　was　closed　but　unlatched。〃

Kent　wondered　if　the　grimace　which　twisted　the　butler's　face　was　meant　for　a　smile。

〃That　there　window　was　locked　when　I　went　to　bed；〃　Grimes　stated　with　slow　distinctness。　　〃And　I　was　the　last　person　in　this　house　to　go　to　my　room。〃

McIntyre　started　to　speak　when　Ferguson　stopped　him。

〃Just　let　me　handle　this　case；〃　he　said　persuasively。　　〃You　have　called　in　the　police；〃　and　as　McIntyre　commenced　some　uncomplimentary　remark；　he　added　with　sternness。　　〃Don't　interfere；　sir。　　Now；　Grimes；　your　statements　imply　one　of　two　things　…　some　member　of　the　household　either　went　downstairs　after　you　had　retired；　and　opened　the　window　in　the　reception　room　to　admit　the　person　who　afterwards　attacked　you　in　the　library；　or〃　…　Ferguson　paused　significantly；　〃some　member　of　this　household　knocked　you　senseless　in　the　library。　　Which　was　it？〃

There　was　a　tense　silence。　　McIntyre；　by　an　obvious　effort；　refrained　from　speech　as　they　waited　for　Grimes'　answer。

〃I　dunno　who　hit　me。〃　Grimes　avoided　looking　at　the　three　men。　　〃But　some　one　did；　and　that　window　in　the　reception　room　was　locked　when　I　went　upstairs　to　my　bedroom　after　every　one　had　retired。　　I'm　telling　you　God's　truth；　sir。〃

McIntyre　eyed　him　in　wrathful　silence；　then　turned　to　his　companions。

〃The　blow　has　knocked　Grimes　silly；〃　he　commented。　　〃There　is　certainly　no　motive　for　any　of　us　to　attack　Grimes；　nor　has　any　trace　of　a　weapon　been　found　such　as　must　have　been　used　against　Grimes。　　O'Ryan　and　I　looked　particularly　for　it；　after　removing　Grimes　from　the　Venetian　casket；　where　my　daughter　Helen；　Mrs。　Brewster　and　I　discovered　him　lying　unconscious。〃

〃What's　this　Venetian　casket　like？〃　asked　Ferguson　before　Kent　could　question　McIntyre。

〃It　is　a　fine　sample　of　carving　of　the　Middle　Ages；〃　replied　McIntyre。　　〃I　purchased　the　pair　when　in　Venice　years　ago。　　They　are　over　six　feet　in　length；　about　three　feet　wide；　and　rest　on　a　carved　base。　　There　is　a　door　at　the　end　through　which　it　was　customary　in　the　Middle　Ages　to　slide　the　body；　after　embalming；　for　the　funeral　ceremonies；　after　which　the　body　was　removed；　placed　in　another　casket　and　buried。　　There　is　a　square　opening　or　peep　hole　on　the　top　of　the　casket　through　which　you　can　look　at　the　body；　a　cleverly　concealed　door　covers　this　opening。　　In　fact；〃　added　McIntyre；　〃the　door　at　the　end　is　not　at　first　discernible；　and　is　hard　to　open；　unless　one　has　the　knack　of　doing　so。〃

〃Hum！　　It　looks　as　if　whoever　put　Grimes　inside　the　casket　was　familiar　with　it；〃　remarked　Ferguson　dryly；　and　McIntyre　bit　his　lip。　　〃Guess　I'll　go　and　take　a　look　at　the　casket。　　I'll　come　back；　Grimes。〃

Kent　rose　with　the　others　and　started　to　follow　them　to　the　door；　but　Grimes　beckoned　him　to　approach　the　bed。　　The　butler　waited　until　he　heard　McIntyre's　heavy　tread　and　the　lighter　footfall　of　the　detective　recede　down　the　hall　before　speaking。

〃I　was　only　going　to　say；　sir；〃　he　whispered　as　Kent；　at　a　sign　from　him；　stooped　over　the　bed；　〃I　got　a　box　of　aconitine　pills　for　Mrs。　Brewster　on　Sunday　…　the　stuff　that　poisoned　Mr。　Turnbull；〃　he　paused　to　explain。

〃Yes；　go　on；〃　urged　Kent；　catching　the　man's　excitement。　　〃You　gave　it　to　Mrs。　Brewster　…〃

〃No；　sir；　I　didn't；　I　left　the　box　on　the　hall　table；〃　Grimes　cleared　his　throat　nervously。　　〃I　dunno　who　picked　up　that　box　o'　poison；　Mr。　Kent；　so　help　me　God；　I　dunno！〃

Kent　thought　rapidly。　　〃Have　you　told　any　one　of　this？〃　he　asked。

Grimes　nodded。　　〃Only　one　person；〃　he　admitted。〃　　I　spoke　to　Miss　Barbara　last　night　as　she　was　going　to　bed。〃　　Grimes　laid　a　hot　hand　on　Kent's　and　glanced　fearfully　around　the　room。　　〃Bend　nearer；　sir；　I　don't　want　none　other　to　hear　me。　　Just　before　I　got　that　knockout　blow　in　the　library　last　night；　I　heard　the　swish　o'　skirts　…　and　Miss　Barbara　was　the　only　living　person　who　knew　I　knew　about　the　poison。〃

Kent　stared　in　stupefaction　at　the　butler。　　He　was　aroused　by　a　cold　voice　from　the　doorway。

〃We　are　waiting　for　you；　Kent；〃　and　Colonel　McIntyre　stood　aside　to　let　him　pass　from　the　room　ahead　of　him；　then　without　a　backward　glance　at　the　injured　butler；　he　closed　and　locked　the　bedroom　door。


CHAPTER　XVIII

THE　FATAL　PERIOD

As　Kent　walked　into　the　library　he　found　Colonel　McIntyre　by　his　side；　the　latter's　even　breathing　gave　no　indication　of　the　haste　he　had　made　down　the　staircase　to　catch　up　with　Kent。

Detective　Ferguson　hardly　noted　their　arrival；　his　attention　being　given　wholly　to　the　examination　of　the　Venetian　casket　which　had　played　such　an　important　part　in　the　drama　of　the　night　before。　The　casket　and　its　companion　piece　stood　on　either　side　of　the　room　near　a　window　recess。　　The　long　straight　shape　of　the　high　boxes　on　their　graceful　base　gave　no　indication　of　the　use　to　which　they　had　been　put　in　ancient　days；　but　made　attractive　as　well　as　unique　pieces　of　furniture。

Kent　crossed　the　library　and；　after　looking　inside　the　casket；　examined　the　exterior　with　care。

〃Don't　touch　that　crest；〃　cautioned　Ferguson；　observing　that　Kent's　glance　remained　focused　on　the　blood…stained；　raised　letter　〃B〃　and　the　carving　back　of　it。　　〃In　fact；　don't　touch　any　part　of　the　casket；　I'm　trying　to　get　finger　prints。〃

Kent　barely　heard　the　warning　as　he　turned　to　McIntyre。

〃Haven't　I　seen　that　letter　'B'　design　on　your　stationery；　Colonel？〃　he　asked。

〃Barbara　uses　it；〃　was　the　reply。　　〃She　fancied　the　antique　lettering；　and　copied　the　'B'　for　the　engraver；　she　is　handy　with　her　pen；　you　know。〃

〃Did　she　wish　the　'B'　for　a　seal？〃　inquired　Kent。

〃Yes；　she　had　a　seal　made　like　it　also。〃　　McIntyre　moved　closer　to　the　casket。　　〃Found　anything；　Ferguson？〃

The　detective　withdrew　his　head　from　the　opening　at　the　end　of　the　casket；　and　regarded　the　furniture　vexedly。

〃Not　a　thing；〃　he　acknowledged。　　〃Except　I　am　convinced　that　it　required　dexterity　to　slip　Grimes　inside　the　casket。　　The　butler　is　small　and　slight；　but　he　must　have　been　unconscious　from　that　tap　on　the　forehead　and；　therefore；　a　dead　weight。　　Whoever　picked　him　up　must　have　been　some　athlete；　and〃　…　running　his　eyes　up　and　down　Colonel　McIntyre's　well…knit；　erect　frame　…　〃pretty　familiar　with　the　workings　of　this　casket。〃

〃Pooh！　　It's　not　so　difficult　a　feat；〃　McIntyre　shrugged　his　s